Nonlinear analysis of concrete structures using GFEM enrichment strategy with a microplane constitutive model

A R V Wolenski,A B Monteiro,S S Penna,R L S Pitangueira,F B Barros

doi:10.1590/s1983-41952018000300005

Abstract

Abstract One of the most widespread methods to the nonlinear analysis of structures is the Finite Element Method (FEM). However, there are phenomena whose behavior is not satisfactorily simulated by the standard FEM and this fact has quickened the development of new strategies such as the Generalized Finite Element Method (GFEM), understood as a variation of the FEM. In parallel, nonlinear analysis of concrete structures requires the use of constitutive models that represents the nucleation and propagation of cracks. In this paper it is used an anisotropic constitutive model, based on the microplane theory, which is able to represent the behavior of concrete structures, together with the GFEM approach. These resources are incorporated on the INSANE system (INteractive Structural ANalysis Environment), used in the numerical simulations presented here to demonstrate the feasibility of using the GFEM enrichment strategy, in the nonlinear analysis of concrete structures, with validation made from comparisons with experimental results available in the literature.

Highlights

Several engineering problems can be described using partial differential equations relating field variables inside a particular domain
In this paper it is used an anisotropic constitutive model, based on the microplane theory, which is able to represent the behavior of concrete structures, together with the Generalized Finite Element Method (GFEM) approach
These resources are incorporated on the INSANE system (INteractive Structural ANalysis Environment), used in the numerical simulations presented here to demonstrate the feasibility of using the GFEM enrichment strategy, in the nonlinear analysis of concrete structures, with validation made from comparisons with experimental results available in the literature

Summary

Introduction

Several engineering problems can be described using partial differential equations relating field variables inside a particular domain. The FEM is a quite consolidated numerical technique in the study of several structural engineering problems, it presents some limitations related specially to the description of phenomena such as crack and damage propagation and large deformations. The nature of these phenomena leads to the modification of the mesh in a very costly process. Problems subjected to large deformations and to crack and damage propagation require modifications in discretization of the structure (remeshing) and methods such as the Generalized Finite Element Method (GFEM) have been developed to solve these issues.

A summary explanation of GFEM

Anisotropic constitutive models based on the microplane theory

Numerical simulations

Three-point bending

L-shaped panel

Final remarks